RESUMO
Background Exposure to tobacco dust or noise is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease in workers, but there are few studies on their effects on workers' serum bilirubin levels. Objective To analyze the effects of combined exposure to tobacco dust and noise on workers' serum bilirubin levels. Methods We selected 824 employees from a large cigarette factory in Wuhan. According to the status of occupational hazards on site, we divided the participants into a control group (n=149), a tobacco dust exposure group (n=198), a noise exposure group (n=299), and a tobacco dust and noise combined exposure group (n=178). We collected general information of the participants. We collected blood samples and measured serum bilirubin. We used chi-square test to compare between-group categorical indicators. We used analysis of variance to compare measurement data. Taking the control group as the reference category, we used generalized linear regression model to analyze serum bilirubin concentration across the three exposure groups and the control group. Results The abnormal rates of serum indirect bilirubin concentrations in the control group, the tobacco dust exposure group, the noise exposure group, and the tobacco dust and noise combined exposure group were 6.04% (9/149), 12.63% (25/198), 13.38% (40/299), and 17.42% (31/178), respectively, showing a clear increasing trend (P<0.05). The mean concentrations of indirect bilirubin in the tobacco dust and noise combined exposure group were significantly higher than that in the tobacco dust and the noise groups (P<0.05). The serum indirect bilirubin concentrations in the tobacco dust exposure group, the noise exposure group, and the tobacco dust and noise combined exposure group were 1.833, 1.774, and 1.634 times higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Occupational exposure to tobacco dust or noise may associate with elevated serum total bilirubin concentration in cigarette factory workers, mainly indirect bilirubin concentration. Serum indirect bilirubin anomaly is higher among workers simultaneously exposed to tobacco dust and noise.
RESUMO
Introduction: Around 5 million female beedi workers in India are rolling beedi for 6–12 h and handling 225–450 g of beeditobacco/day in a poor household environment. Beedi tobacco dust gets absorbed through the cutaneous and pharyngealroute. Nicotine, the main component, is a potent cardiac myocyte, A-type potassium channel inhibitor. Nicotine, a potentarrhythmogenic agent, causes electrophysiological disturbances such as shortened QTc and prolonged T-wave end (Tp-e)interval, by prolonging ventricular repolarization time. Nicotine accelerates atherogenesis also. Very few Indian studies areavailable to highlight this aspect.Aim: This study aims to observe the electrocardiogram (ECG) changes in female beedi rollers in Tirunelveli district.Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 35 female beedi rollers, aged between 20 and 50 years, rollingbeedi for at least 5 years. Blood pressure and ECGs were performed on all subjects following standard operating procedure.Heart rate, QTc, and Tp-e intervals were measured.Results: The mean age of beedi rollers is 45.75 ± 7.1 years with mean years of exposure of 19.70 ± 8.05 years rolling 22.8 ± 8.54beedi bundles/day. There is no correlation found in systolic and diastolic pressure. Mean QTc interval was 432 ± 23.6 ms, meanTp-e interval is 79.47 ± 3.2 ms; there is no correlation in the duration of beedi rolling with ECG parameters.Conclusion: Beedi tobacco (nicotine) exposure is associated with risk of accelerated atherogenesis and arrhythmogenesis,but in our study, beedi rollers are not showing changes in ECG.
RESUMO
CONTEXT: Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy among women in India. There is thus a need to identify unexplored risk factors such as occupational exposure to tobacco dust to justify its increasing trend so as to recommend suitable preventive measures. AIMS: The aim was to study the association between occupational exposure to tobacco dust with development of carcinoma cervix. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Case‑control study done in two tertiary care hospitals in Mangalore. METHODOLOGY: 239 histologically confirmed new cases of cervical cancer and the equivalent number of age‑matched controls from 2011 to 2012 were interviewed about occupational history of beedi rolling and related factors. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi‑square test, unpaired t‑test, logistic regression. RESULTS: Exposure rate to tobacco dust following beedi rolling was 63 (26.4%) among cases and 38 (15.9%) among controls (P = 0.005, odds ratio [OR] =1.893). The latent period from occupational exposure of tobacco dust subsequent to beedi rolling and development of cervical cancer was found to be 26.5 ± 8.5 years. Adjusted OR of beedi rolling with development of cervical cancer was found to be 1.913 (P = 0.005) after controlling the confounding effect of tobacco usage and was 1.618 (P = 0.225) after controlling the effects of all confounders. Three‑quarters of beedi rollers were working in conditions of inadequate ventilation and hardy anybody used face mask during work. About a quarter of participants underwent voluntary screening for cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: Occupational exposure to tobacco dust was found to be associated with risk of developing cervical cancer. Measures to promote awareness, timely screening of this disease along with the improvement in working conditions is required for improving the health status of beedi rollers and to minimize the incidence of carcinoma cervix in the community.
RESUMO
Background : Exposure to vegetable dusts is probable in many industrial and agricultural industries. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between exposure to tobacco dusts and lung capacities and airflows. Materials and Methods : Two hundred thirty-one individuals who were exposed to tobacco dusts in a cigarette-manufacturing company were included in the study. One hundred individuals who were working in the same area but in other industries and were not exposed to harmful dusts were also selected as controls. Spirometry with American Thoracic Society (ATS) standards was performed for both groups. Statistical Analysis : Spirometry results were compared between the two groups using SPSS software by 't' test. Results : The mean age of the exposed and unexposed groups was 36 ± 7 and 35 ± 7 years, respectively. Spirometry results showed that lung capacities and airflows in the exposed group were significantly less than those of controls (P< 0.001). Considering relative variation, the highest reduction was seen in peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow (FEF25%) and peak inspiratory flow (PIF). Conclusion : The results of this study show that exposure to tobacco dust would decrease lung capacities and airflows during the years.